So I heard all the hoopla about Caraval and how it is very similar to the 2011 magi-realism story set in the late 19th century fantasy London.

I’m talking about ‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern. Obviously, I had to read this before I got to Caraval.

The story is about this girl and boy fated to fight each other in a magical duel till there is only one of them left standing. The night circus is their arena where they perform tricks and illusions to beat the other. But things get really messy when the two fall in love and the fate of the circus and their lives are at stake.

The novel is dreamlike and whimsical. The storytelling is truly unique and for the first time in a long while made me very keen about the author’s writing style. The imagery in the chapters is also vivid for those who love descriptions and the characters are beautifully grey – moral ambiguity for the win!

I think every fantasy reader should definitely read this book because it has managed to push our imaginations to another level.